Arncliffe – Postcard #9

The postcard is used and has a bit of wear and tear. You can see the creases at the top right corner where it has been bent. There is also some damage to the image – you can see this on the right end wall of the church. Finally there is some staining down the middle of the image. But apart from all that it’s perfect!

The card was published by T Turner of Skipton.

Unfortunately the stamp has been torn from the card and this has made the postmark impossible to read. It looks like it is dated 17 July. It was posted in Arncliffe to Private D Holland at the Military Hospital in Frensham, Surrey. I suspect that Private Holland was there sometime during the First World War.

My interest in Arncliffe is because my 2x great grandmother, Hannah Dinsdale, was born there as were her siblings and two or three other people in my tree. From what I have been able to establish Hannah was christened at St. Oswald’s church.

The first stone church here at Arncliffe was built in the 12th century. In about 1500 the old church was pulled down and a new one was built, this time with a tower.

Then in 1796 everything except the tower was pulled down. A new chancel was built on the site of the 16th century one, and the roof was opened up to show the timbers.

St. Oswald’s stands in a beautiful spot beside the River Skirfare. I haven’t visited the church yet but it is on my list of things to do.